Float



Feb. 17. 1925.

1,526,805 F.4c. scHoENaucKER ET AL FLbAT Filed Oct. 29, 1921 Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

1,526,8e5 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. SCHOENBUCKER AND ARTHUR n. c. ravis, or MILwarmen,` WISCONSIN. i,

anonce.

Application med october 29, 1921. serial No. 511,469.

To all fui/omit may concern.'

Be :it known that FRANK C. SCHOEN- BUoKnR and ARTHUR H. C. Tnws, citizens of the f United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wis consin, have invented new and useful lmprovements `in Floats, or" which the following isa speciiication. L j

This inventon relates to loats and is particularly directed to a float adaptedior use of plasterers.

l The usual practice in plastering is to :finish the 'final coat while it is still damp, by rubbing it with a piece of carpet tacked upon a wooden block and continuously rewettino' the plasteiI immediately preceding this rubbing action or process. In this'manner the various defects, suclras hollows, protuberances, and irregularities generally are removed, and a finished smooth surface is produced..` Itjtrequently happens that the carpet strip will wear out before the stretch or extent oit' the wall has been covered. It is then necessary to withdraw the tacks or nails, remove the worn carpet, and replace it by a new piece. This requires considerable time, and if the plaster is of a quick hardening variety, it may be that considerable diiiiculty is experienced in subsequently finishing the remaining portion after a new piece of carpet has been positioned correctly upon the float. Also, inasmuch as the float is wet during the entire working period, and is allowed to dry over night or between successive jobs, it frequently happens that the wooden block will warp and that the hollows will have to be `filled out by sticking paste board strips between the carpet and the warped portion of the block. It is also extremely difficult to properly stretch the carpet over the float and tack it in place while it s held in a stretched condition, and it will be noted that this operation necessitates the use of nails and a hammer or similar tool which may not at all times be accessible.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to rovide a oat which will not have these inherent defects, but which may be readily and quickly manipulated to permit the changing of worn strips of carpet without the use of nails or hammer, which will not warp, and which will at one operation stretch and secure the carpet in position.

Further objects are to provide a float which has a non-absorbent, non-warping body, which is of substantially the same weight as the usualvloats, which will not rust, which does not require the use of nails or a hammer` or any additional tools for u and which will hold the carpet in such a position that it is less likely to tray than in the usual construction of floats.

properly positioning the new carpet strip,

An embodiment of the invention is shown y, in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete ioat. 1

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in secton, with the fabric member removed.

Figure 3 is a plan view, with parts broken ""f portion of this member is provided with up-v turnedridges oiL projecting ribs 2 and 3 adjacent its ends and extending completely across the member 1. A pair of lugs, as indicated at 4L and 5, are formed integrally with the member 1 adjacent its side edges, and are spaced inwardly from the end ot' such member.

A pair of clips 6 and 7 are hingedly mounted upon the member 1 by mea-ns oit' rivets or bolts 8 and 9 passed thru the lugs 4 and 5 and the inwardly directed arms 10 and 11 of the clips, respectively, These clips are each provided with an outwardly extending member, indicated respectively at 12 and 13, which is located in close proximity to and slightly spaced inwardly from the ribs or upwardly extending' projections 2 and 3, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Bolts 14 and 15 are hingedly joined to lugs 16 and 17 formed integrally with the member 1 adjacent its respective ends and are adapted to extend upwardly from such member and to pass through slots 18 and 19 formed in the members 6 and 7. A pair of thumb nuts 2O and 21 are threaded upon the bolts 14 and 15 and serve to press the clips 6 and 7 downwardly.

A manipulating handle 22, which is of 'relatively large size, so as to form a convenient grip for the operator, is secured upon the upper side of the. member 1 by means ot screws .i8 countersunk in the member 1 (see Figure 2). It is to be noted that the handle is tapered downwardly and outwardly and has a relatively large bearing surface in contact with the upper surface of the member l. In @order to accommodate ths size and type of handle the clips 6 and 7 are formed as indicated in the drawing, that is to-say,with-rearwardly extending -arms l0 and ll positioned upon opposite sides of the handle.

When it is desiredl to use theffloat,

piece of fabric 24, such for example as carpet,l is positioned beneath the member l with lits ends Qand 26. passed over thefprojec- :tions or ridges 2 and 3 and beneath the pori tions lQKand 13 ofthe-clips.

I:nuts 2O and 2l are tightened so as to force The thumb the clips downwardly. It is to benoted that the bottom -edges ofthe members 1 2 `and .13 engage thel fabric slightlyinwardly of the projections 2 and 3, and thereby draw ,these endsidownwardly over.l such projections,.which in turn, secures the proper ten- `slonmg of. the fabric across the end face of the member l. If desired, the fabrfiomay be-,slightlyii'ider than the member l so as to providea more gradually rounded edge atrthe .lateral margins of the float, asthe fabric will bend upwardly aboiitsuch edges. A It will thus be seenk that ailoa-t-has-been vprovided which is admirablyadapted for rapid and continuous use by providing for the iqulclr renewal of'the worn fabric or carpet member, and by providing means for insuring its proper tensioning across the enddface of theidevice.l It will also ,be seen that a lioat has been provided which may be readily worked into the corners of a room, -wh1ch is ofsubstantially-thesame weight as the usual wooden floats, and in which auxiliary tools are not required to effect the rel.clips adapted lto swing past4 .said projecting ribs Vand to' slightly clear such ribs,` means .for-forcingsaid clips downwardlj.7 andv retainingthem in position, and. a fabric .strip positioned across theunder side of said body portion, ,and having itstends extending` over said `ribs andfrengaged by said clips, whereby when said clips. are, forced downwardly said Afabric Vwill .be drawn, overid ribs, and thereby properly .tensioned and secured in position. n

' y RAK C. SCHOENBUCKll-.

ARTHUR H. C TEVS. 

